Apple is working on a version of Xcode with an AI tool for generating code

According to Bloomberg, Apple is developing a new version of its software development tool, Xcode, that will include an artificial intelligence (AI) feature able to generate code. The AI tool will be able to convert code from one programming language to another and to create code from natural-language requests, similar to Microsoft’s GitHub Copilot.

At the moment, Apple is testing the feature internally and plans to release it “later this year” to external software developers. The company is also hiring engineers to test AI-generated code for apps

Adding artificial-intelligence capabilities to Xcode joins a series of other AI features that the company plans to integrate into Siri and other built-in apps. Apple aims to improve Spotlight search, and options such as the ability to create presentations in Keynote and generate playlists in Apple Music may appear as some of the new features. Search may also include specific app attributes and may provide solutions to complex questions through features based on large language models.

Craig Federighi, Apple’s software chief, instructed employees to create as many new AI features as possible for iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS 15, according to Bloomberg. Apple expects to present “a range of new AI features”, and iOS 18 may rank as one of the best iPhone updates since launch. Although some AI features will arrive on macOS, the company plans to take a gradual approach to AI development, with some features that will not be available for years.

Bloomberg readers left several comments on the original article about the Xcode tool and Apple’s other AI features. Some readers expressed excitement about the possibility of making app development simpler, while others raised concerns about the quality, security and intellectual property of AI-generated code. Some asked whether this tool is truly useful and whether it can be trusted for more complex projects.